Page 6 of Gunner

“Where you goin’?”

“Uh, home?”

“Why? Stick around,” I tell her. She sits awkwardly on the edge of the bed when I reach over and pull her down next to me. “I’m not one to kick a pretty girl outta my bed,” I tell her. She smiles and looks over at me. Something flickers in her eyes, and the smile disappears.

“I …”

“You what?”

“I … I should go.”

“No. You should stay.”

“Why?”

“Why not? It’s a party, and we’re havin’ fun.” I watch her run her hand through her hair before sitting back up and climbing off the bed. If she doesn’t want to stay, I can’t force her but I did want another round with her.

I watch her walk into the bathroom and close the door behind her as I throw my arm behind my head and relax. A few minutes later, she comes out fully clothed.

“You don’t wanna stay?”

“I really need to go.”

“I get it. You can come back around, yeah?”

“Maybe,” she says, giving me a soft smile. I smile back and watch her walk out of my room before I sit up and grab my clothes. I dress quickly and head back out to the party, not caring I smell like sex. Shit, I smell like her, and I fucking like it.

“You fucked that girl?” Locke asks.

“Yeah, why?”

“Val is losin’ her shit.”

“What the hell, Dad?” I look over to see Kiki and all her attitude.

“What? I told your mom there’s nothin’ between us. I can’t help she don’t listen. Besides, she can leave anytime. No one is holdin’ her ass here,” I tell her. She shakes her head, but she understands.

“She loves you,” Kiki reminds me.

“She doesn’t. She loves what she can’t have. That’s all this is.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I do. She never wanted this life, Kiki. It’s why she left to begin with,” I remind her.

“You’re probably right.”

“I’m always right,” I tease her. She laughs and throws herself into my arms, hugging me. It’s the best feeling in the world to have my daughter here.

“You havin’ a good time?” I ask her.

“The best. As always.”

“Good. I’m goin’ to get a beer.” She pulls away from me and smiles as I walk toward the bar. That’s when I see Nat. She’s young, younger than I thought to begin with. She’s standing next to a guy arguing, by the looks of it. Her little hands fly through the air, but he just shakes his head and smiles. Is that her boyfriend? Surely she wouldn’t have fucked me while he was here.

I grab my beer but keep my eyes on her. She’s skinny. Too skinny. Like she doesn’t eat much, the man next to her is shoveling food into his mouth but she isn’t. Something hits me in the chest as I stalk toward her. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing or why, but I feel like I need to feed the girl.

I walk over and grab a plate, piling it with food before I grab her wrist.

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